Permit Requirements

ii. The city/county will send someone to your residence for an inspection and permit approval

iii. Once the permit approval is complete, Tara Energy will receive notification directly from the city/county and your enrollment will be processed

iv. Thereafter, you will receive a welcome package confirming your enrollment and service activation date

1. What is a Permit?

Many cities, towns and counties require that an inspection of your property is completed prior to allowing your utility to provide requested services. This may also be called a Certificate of Occupancy or Permit.

2. Why do I need a permit?

Many cities and counties require a permit or an approval to receive electric service to ensure the safety of the individual and his/her family who are moving into the premise.

3. How do I obtain a permit?

Contact the city or county to obtain a permit, click here for the full list of cities.

4. How long will Tara Energy hold my enrollment while I work with the City on my permit?

The utility will hold your enrollment order for 20 calendar days, from the date it was received. If you are unable to obtain a permit within this time period, call Tara Energy at 1-866-438-8272.

5. Do I have to take any action after inspection is complete and permit is approved?

No. Your utility will confirm to Tara Energy directly and we will be able to process your enrollment. There is no action required from your end.

6. How does Tara Energy inform me that my permit or approval is received and the service will be connected?

After we have received confirmation from your utility that required paperwork is submitted, we will process your enrollment. You will receive a welcome package from us when your enrollment order has been completed.

7. I need more information on how my city will work with me on the permit process?

Contact the city or county to obtain a permit, click here for the full list of cities.

Switch Hold

1. What is a switch hold and why do I have it on my account?

A Switch Hold is placed either by the utility or the current provider on the service location. This may prevent services to be switched away to a new provider or it may prevent services to be turned on for the new occupant unless the occupant moving in demonstrates adequate evidence as requested by the utility.

There are a couple of reasons why a switch-hold may be placed on your account:

The first reason may be that you have entered into a Deferred Payment Plan with your current provider to pay a past due amount and the current provider has placed the switch-hold on your account until your obligation has been met. The Deferred Payment Plan allows you time to pay the debt owed to the current provider and helps ensure that the debt commitment is met.

The second reason that a switch-hold may be placed on your account is that the utility has determined that meter tampering has occurred at your location. Tampering with the TDU’s meter to benefit from unbilled electricity or service is against the law.

2. What should I do when I have a Switch Hold on my account?

If you have been residing in that location, please contact your current service provider to resolve this issue.

If you are a new resident at this location, you will need to provide some additional information in order for us to process your request for electric service.

Please see below for these requirements:

Fill out the new occupancy statement (NOS) form (link)

Provide one of the below supporting documents:

Copy of signed lease;

Notarized affidavit of landlord;

Closing documents of the property owned;

Certificate of occupancy; or

Utility bill in Customer’s name dated within last two months from a different premise.

Send the above documents through one of the methods mentioned below:

Email: CustomerSupport@TaraEnergy.com

Fax: 1-888-548-7690

3. How long will it take to remove the Switch Hold

Once we receive the documents from [you/or applicant] showing you are a new occupant at the premise and there are no issues with the documents, we will then submit these documents and a switch hold removal request to the utility and/or the other REP for the location.

Thereafter, the utility and other REP will review the documents and notify us if the switch hold is removed.

Tara Energy will notify you at the email or phone you provided of the results of the review and whether the switch-hold was removed.

If the switch hold removal is approved and if Tara Energy is notified before 5 PM on a business day, we will automatically submit your enrollment order the same day. Otherwise it will be submitted the following business day.

If the switch hold removal is denied, you will be notified then need to contact the other retailer for more information.

4. How will I know if Switch Hold was removed and my service will be connected?

We will contact you at the email or phone you provide during the enrollment call with the results of whether the switch-hold will be removed. Or you may contact us at 1-866-438-8272 for an update and we will let you know the status of the request.

Meter not available at your service address

1. Why isn't there a meter or meter identifier at this service location?

There could be many reasons why meter or meter identifier is not available. Here are the most common reasons for meter not available at your property:

Meter has been tampered with or removed

You changed from analog to smart meter

Or your meter has been stolen

2. What should I do?

Call the utility using the number mentioned below and let them know that your enrollment is on hold because the meter is not available.

Centerpoint Energy: 713.207.2222

There can be two outcomes when you contact your Utility:

Utility will provide you a unique number which is called ESI id

Reactivate your location identifier (ESI)

3. How long will it take to install the new meter?

It could take anywhere between 3 to 10 business days to work these requests. However, your utility can confirm your exact timelines.

4. How does Tara Energy inform me that this issue has been resolved?

You will receive welcome package from us when your enrollment order has been completed.